The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-24
A GOOD LOOK AT THE QUEEN.
How highlands Ruler ppears AID
how She is Guarded.

SN' S"ud iooh dC Ine queen recently,
ana that Is quite rare thing for straigers.
Her majesty seldom occupies Buckingham
Palace, her London residence. aid only
comes into town on occasions of ceremony.
Even during the jubilee ceremoiies last
summer she preferred to remainat Wind
sor and run into London by rail whenever
her presence was necessary there rather
IMAM sleep at Buckingham. have made
many inquiries of people WHO ought to
Know, but nobody seems able to tell why
sne does not like the place. The nearest
can get at it is that there are some sorrowful
associations connected with The grand old
mansion, which the Duke of Buckingham
erected hundred years ago and sold to her
grandfather.
When she comes to Londol by train she
uses half dozen special cars fitted up TO
her exclusive use, which are ALWAYS kept in
readiness at Slough station, couple of
miles from Windsor. Or if she is at Os-
borne Castle on the Isle G Wight, where
she spends two thirds of her time, she goes
across the bay to Portsmouth on the ROYAL
yacht and then takes the Cars. 1t isn't often
she travels, and the railway and police Off
Gals are very glad of it, The track has to
be patroled, the royal train must have the
right of way, all stations must be closed
until after she has passed. and at the Lon
don end of the line business is actually sus-
pended for time till her majesty has been
taken care of.
When she intends to take trip the pri-
vate secretary to her majesty or the Grand
Chamberlain notifies the railroad officials
and the police authorities of London. The
former prepare the royal train, and the lat
ter bring out about half their force to escort
her. A party of detectives go to Windsor
and come up on the train. They have car
to themselves and are well taken care of;
but it isn't q verypleasant duty. When
she enters the cars T leaves them they sur
round her person and remain by her side
till she Is in the state carriage and protected
10y her body guard of horsemen. The
Queens Guards are picked men. the finest
In the army, and is considered a promo
ton to be transferred to that regiment
They are selected for. their stature and
soldierly accomplishments, their horseman-
ship, and general intelligence, and they are
paid and treated better than any other
branch of the service. Their uniform is
bright scarlet, they ride immense black
chargers, and carry sabres and carbines
Whenever the Queen is out of doors de-
tachment of them surround her carriage
and ride so as to protect her with their
bodies
The route of the Queen from the station
to Buckingham Palace lies through Hyde
Park and the famous Rotten Row, and it
was there l saw her as she passed. Through
the kindness of Mr.. Littlechild, the chief of
detectives at Great Scotland Yard, who
has charge of the precautionary meas
ures, was informed as to the exact route
her majesty would take and the exact time
she would pass a certain point on Rotten
Row, so got a tally-ho coach and riding
out there took my station by the roadside
and waited for her to come. If had been
IN an ordinary carriage | could not have
seen her because of the horsemen who sur
rounded her, but from the top of the coach
l could look down over their heads
There was line of patrolmen, from Pad
dinguon station to Buckingham Palace, a
distance of mile or more, SO near to each
other that they could easily converse, and
every one of them had his eyes and ears
open, which showed the value of a pass
from Mr.. Littlechild. They asked no ques-
tions, but simply passed the word along
that we were a party of Americans with
card from the chief.
After waiting a quarter of an hour or
more, for my party was prompt, as her
majesty was also to the exact minute, | saw
a group of brilliant relocated horsemen
coming down the broad shaded avenue,
galloping like mad. It was brilliant spec
tacle, like cavalry charge, for they had
their sabres drawn and at their shoulders
At their head rode one of the masters of her
majesty's horse, or groom in waiting, |
don't know which, but it makes no differ
ence, riding alone at trot, although the
rest of the horsemen galloped. He was in
red also, wore lots of gold lace and black
cooked hat, and looked as if he realized his
Importance. Then came four mounted car
bineers abreast with their guns on their
hips and their hands on their triggers, ready
for any emergency. Then forty or more of
the handsome guards, sitting their black
SteedS like centaurS, and their silver trap
pings jingling like music.
In the midst of them was the state car
riage, most gorgeous affair of yellow and
black, with a crest on the door as large as
washtub-the royal arms. 1t was drawn by
four large horses, each ridden by a groom
wearing the royal livery of scarlet coats,
white breeches, high hats with gold bands,
and broad strip of black crepe around the
left arm, the symbol of mourning that has
never been taken off since Prince Albert
died, and never will be as long as Victoria
lives. Upon the high seat in front, where
the coachmar sh lid have been, sat two
footmen in blae4 with white silk knee
breeches and powdered hair, and upon cor
responding seat over the hind wheels were
two brawny Sootchmen, gillies, in the High
land costume with their big sabres at their
shoulders Her majesty never goes any
where without these two men. When she
sits upon the throne they are behind her;
when she walks in the park they are always
within call. This was the duty the famous
John Brown performed, and he did good
service in having twice saved Victorias life
One of the men saw served with Brown,
and the other was selected for his place
when he died.
On the back seat of the carriage sat bolt
upright fat little woman, with a very red
face, almost as broad as tall, clad in black
silk and small old-fashioned black bonnet
with a widows veil thrown over her shout
ders. She didn't look much like an EN-
press, and the ladies of my party insisted
that she resembled a washerwoman: but
she bowed graciously to us as we lifted our
hats, and doubtless recognized us as Ameri-
cans, as all others do.
There were three young ladies in the
carriage with her, dressed in white muslin,
and looking very prm. They were
her granddaughters, the daughters of
Fritz" the Crown Prince of Prussia,
and the Prince of Wales, rather plain
girls, as all the royal children are. As they
passed me they exchanged some remarks
with the Queen, which would have given
a world TO have overheard, for they were
evidently about the ladies of my party, as
pretty group of American girls as ever
decorated the top Of a tally-ho coach. 1t
was but an instant, and the royal party was
out Of sight, followed by a couple Of car